Nixon, Geiger & Hauck on American Legion and Military draft

3:40:07Listen, I'm glad you're here.
3:40:08It's good to see you here.
3:40:42And now let's take on a statement, too, so that we're talking about, you know, national affairs.
3:40:56It's the last time we've been out here to have space together with Lester, and it's homecoming celebration down in Sullivan, Illinois.
3:41:07Oh, in 25 years.
3:41:08Yes, right, right.
3:41:10Last membership card, if you were the guest speaker in this, yes.
3:41:13It was 1960, in the summer of 69.
3:41:14Lester's a great director.
3:41:16Put up your chairs, all of you.
3:41:17Put them up here so we can all sing.
3:41:23Yes, sir.
3:41:23It's a great call out.
3:41:23Great call out.
3:41:48All right.
3:41:55All right.
3:41:58All right.
3:42:06Well, you're gonna have, I think, a very good year.
3:42:14I want to tell you now that
3:42:19It is my intention to attend your convention next year.
3:42:23I did not attend your convention this year because I couldn't double up and go to two of Texas' seminaires.
3:42:31So it will be your convention Saturday.
3:42:33And where are you going to be?
3:42:34We're in Chicago, Illinois, in London.
3:42:37So you can go out all that.
3:42:37All right.
3:42:38You've got it on our schedule.
3:42:39I will not do the BMW next year.
3:42:42So, in other words, we, as you know... We have a little concern because our convention dates are right in our lap with the Man of the Republican National Convention in San Diego.
3:42:50They're almost consecutive, so I think the end of the Republican Convention will be the end of ours, and we would normally have you in earlier.
3:42:57So it's been working out, I believe, twice.
3:43:00You might catch yours before, or could we catch it afterwards?
3:43:06Couldn't catch it after the end of these.
3:43:09Then it gives our connection.
3:43:11You won't still be in.
3:43:14But what I might do is we could try to hop into their convention on the way to California.
3:43:21Well, this is going to take some very careful planning.
3:43:24We don't know what we're going to do about it.
3:43:29Right.
3:43:30And then the other thing I was going to say to you that I know that you've been very helpful on our, our, our, our, uh, accounting issue.
3:43:40Let me, let me say a word on that.
3:43:43It's very important to the Legionnaires who understand that some say, oh, and the President talks about, uh, looking to the interests of America.
3:43:55and seeing to it that our interests are protected as we trade with other nations.
3:43:58That isolationist thought, the answer is no.
3:44:01Only a strong America can be an international America.
3:44:05Only a strong America able to maintain its military strength, having the economic strength to play a role in the world,
3:44:12can help keep the peace in the world.
3:44:15A weak America, economically, will inevitably be isolated.
3:44:19Inevitably.
3:44:20If this country becomes weak, as we become non-competitive, we'll build walls around ourselves, we'll turn injured, we'll pull in from all over the world, and who's going to be left?
3:44:31So for America, America must maintain its number one position in the world economically if we are going to be able to maintain our position of number one from a standpoint of national security.
3:44:46Now on the national security issue, we have presently before the Congress a terribly difficult issue.
3:44:52It's the issue of the draft.
3:44:58How did that vote survive?
3:44:5947-36, I think it was, was the first.
3:45:01That much?
3:45:02Yes, sir.
3:45:02And John and Bill were very helpful getting the senators this week.
3:45:08Well, yesterday, we could have lost tonight.
3:45:10We were behind yesterday in the... 47-36.
3:45:13I think that's the vote, sir.
3:45:1446-37.
3:45:15Let me tell you that without the draft, America will be, I can say, catapulted.
3:45:22Well, if they can get unilaterally,
3:45:38without any treatment on their part, a reduction in heart strength, they're not gonna give us anything.
3:45:42That's why I do know you sat through some of these things, for I'm up for ABM.
3:45:45I said, for God's sakes, we've got that ABM.
3:45:48In order to have a card in play, in order to have that to put a bill in there, I see them.
3:45:51You know, they have those comments.
3:45:55I believe you.
3:45:56The Legion's traditional view of a strong American is essential at this point because there's disturbing trends developing as a result of this chapter about Vietnam and the frustration.
3:46:08Get out of the world.
3:46:11Reduce our strength.
3:46:12Pay attention to the problems of America.
3:46:14We want to do all those things.
3:46:16But at this point, we have to maintain the strength necessary
3:46:24that are for our negotiating position to succeed.
3:46:29Like whatever position right now, I can tell you that you will see in the next two or three months some announcements.
3:46:35I won't tell you what they are, but there will be announcements that will indicate new initiatives.
3:46:42will be very hopeful in terms of saying, well, now maybe we're going to have some peaceful relations with America.
3:46:49But none of them will work if America in advance says, well, we're going to get rid of the draft, we're going to cut our military expenditures by $10 billion and so forth.
3:47:00So I cannot besides respond to the need for strong support from the veterans organizations, for strong
3:47:06I'm preaching to the choir here, but you know, Newfoundland may get the impression that, well, this is a little weak to talk, but boy, the country needs it now.
3:47:17And the country needs it.
3:47:18They shouldn't tell me this, but get after those senators, and there are some Republicans, as well as them, that are just as bad as them, those senators that stick their head in the mud, and you know how it is, right?
3:47:30Yes, sir.
3:47:30They've got to get after these folks, I'm exposing them, because they can't take positions
3:47:35We have here, Mr. President, a greater part of the resolutions that we adopted in our national convention in Houston, Texas, four years ago, and you'll find that there is strong support for what you have just indicated to us.
3:47:53We do have this in our minds, and we're going to promote it actively this year.
3:47:58this level into the United States, too, because we're going into a political year.
3:48:02We have to do our work.
3:48:05Now, let me say, I totally understand what you say about politics, but on the other hand, there's no politics that we can push on.
3:48:12No, we're no politics.
3:48:13We're politics, but we're certainly current.
3:48:15I think you did a good job.
3:48:19Dr. Jack, Ian Ray, a very fine young man, Jeff Donfeld, and Don.
3:48:44Well, that's my focus this year on this whole town.
3:48:54On the Vietnam issue, I would only suggest this, that after 45,000 lives, the important thing now
3:49:05is not to throw up a towel.
3:49:07And it was dishonorable.
3:49:09And as I said, it was more than I think the Army accomplished its mission in the military.
3:49:13It did sustain the nation.
3:49:14Well, we have somebody who said, well, let me tell you something.
3:49:18I said, the United States today provides foreign aid to 91 countries in the world.
3:49:36If we were to cut off aid to those countries that had leaders that were not elected in a contested democratic election, we would have to cut off aid to two-thirds of those countries.
3:49:50Now, as far as Vietnam is concerned, the congressional elections were fair.
3:49:55As far as Tu is concerned, we can't force other people to run.
3:49:58We would have preferred if they did, but they didn't.
3:50:00But the main point is this.
3:50:02Isn't it better to have a solid Vietnam with some elections than to have a communist
3:50:09with no elections, it is in North Vietnam.
3:50:12And also, isn't it better at this long last, after this long or two, for America to withdraw in an honorable way that allows the South Vietnamese a chance to defend themselves against guns, rather than to get out like that?
3:50:26and let the country just go to the communists.
3:50:30We really don't, because we just cannot, we cannot be untrue to the vows of the United Nations and the world of what she's spoken to.
3:50:38I think that's why we dismayed, we did a bang on our position, so we just don't want to live in that world.
3:50:44That's not what I'm saying.
3:50:45Thank God, let me tell you that this isn't going to be an issue that will be particularly irritating.
3:50:52as the time goes on, because when you come down to it, look at your casualties.
3:50:56This summer, they were one-eighteenth of what they were in the summer before we came in, in the night weeks.
3:51:03They were one-fifth of what they were in any previous summer in the last five years.
3:51:10They were 14 this week.
3:51:11Too many.
3:51:11It was the only one.
3:51:13But on the other hand, we've done it.
3:51:14Now, the casualties are down.
3:51:16The troops will be less than...
3:51:18By December 1st, we'll be down to 184.
3:51:22And then there'll be another withdrawal announcement at that point.
3:51:28So the war is really over.
3:51:30Oh, we'd like to take a concentration off of that.
3:51:35And we owe them something.
3:51:38We owe those folks something.
3:51:41Oh, we want to build the respect back to the whole organization of military services.
3:51:45Excellent.
3:51:46But I strongly suggest, particularly the Army, the Army's in trouble.
3:51:52And it's just wrong for people to, well, first to knock down the military.
3:51:56We've got to build up the peacetime military circles and criticize the elements, but not the whole establishment, if you can say.
3:52:03God, they pick up these proselytizing things and the rest of it and make it appear that every American that's served is a savage.
3:52:17Well, my God, that's not true.
3:52:22There are over two million Americans here in Vietnam, and most of them are fine, decent kids that went out there, did their job, helped this poor, struggling country get on its feet, saved 17 million people from a bloodbath that happened in North Vietnam, and we ought to be proud of those guys.
3:52:37And around the world today,
3:52:39I mean, it's tough.
3:52:41It's tough.
3:52:42Kids get abroad and have gold and women and all the other things that happen.
3:52:46And it's hard to even be in Europe.
3:52:47This is true of the rest.
3:52:49Around the world today, it's the presence of American forces that keeps the peace in the world.
3:52:55Without it, we wouldn't have it.
3:52:57That's what it is.
3:52:58And we ought to be proud of these guys, too.
3:53:00The name of them is Pierre.
3:53:01You know what I mean?
3:53:04It's a hard case to sell if you're going to buy it.
3:53:07Well, it depends.
3:53:10Depends.
3:53:11I don't know.
3:53:12What do you think, Chuck?
3:53:13It could be so.
3:53:16It's every time I get a chance.
3:53:18They expect me to.
3:53:19But if you can, don't let the manager of people throughout the grassroots have that same feeling.
3:53:24And I don't think, I can tell you what it is you think.
3:53:27The press hammers that around.
3:53:29I think, Mr. President, the fact that that vote today was 47 to 36 is a result of what you said yesterday.
3:53:34You went right over the heads of the people.
3:53:37And the politicians respond to that.
3:53:39That's a very dramatic turnaround.
3:53:41We have another concern, of course, with our Regents Administration.
3:53:43We realize that they're passing on other burdens now with these drug abuse and treatment centers and so on.
3:53:49And we want to be sure that they're fully sustained as we go into this second phase of the government's curtailment of employment and so on, that we do not have...
3:53:58and over across the board, handily apply it to them, because I guess such a small part of their organization is involved with personnel, and they're widely needed.
3:54:07If we take a cut through that, it would be very serious in the service level.
3:54:10I mean, particularly in the Army.
3:54:12Yeah, it's always like a 5% cut across the board, right?
3:54:15It's serious for them, because they just now began to really...
3:54:18I've got Don Johnson at Weinberg, the budget director, to personally discuss this with me, and we'll take a hard look at it.
3:54:27We're going to offer lots of access to them on this drug claim, and I think between the agency, VA, and their new unit, we'll be able to reinforce them a great deal, but they still have a lot of professionals now that they've had on board elective.
3:54:41There was a report that they would be cutting in the drug area, but that was untrue, and as Don said, that won't be happening in the drug area.
3:54:51No, we haven't.
3:54:51Of course, our convention is much concerned about elective.
3:54:54I'm feeling sure that we'll get special consideration there, especially at this point in history.
3:54:58That may suggest this, that for a widening communication, actually, I don't know, I bet you will write to Don Johnson.
3:55:03Yes, of course, as close as possible to your predecessors.
3:55:06But by the same token, when you've got something that you're really, you're really concerned about, you are right here in Washington.
3:55:13Get a hold of Colson.
3:55:14All right, well, because he's...
3:55:15He does terrible things.
3:55:16You know what I mean?
3:55:17Some of these cut across political lines and other things.
3:55:20And for the same reason, we'd like to feel we can call you on the same basis.
3:55:25I appreciate that.
3:55:26But you can be sure if you talk to him, you're talking to me.
3:55:30And we'll picture the boo-boo right here.
3:55:35We have a lot of other issues to do with it.
3:55:38We have a disease increase in young people, and that's something most of us don't read too much about.
3:55:43But our Youth Commission brought this up, and a very strong emphasis that apparently the thing has been sort of second-rated in the public's eye because of the...
3:55:56While they feel that there have been programs that have been appropriated for, and the machinery is there, but it hasn't been turned loose on the area of the CBC.
3:56:04Got it.
3:56:06Because it's primarily, he's talking mainly among the service groups or young people.
3:56:12But of course, our team, they do us a very promiscuous, we are the rules, he says.
3:56:17I mean, after all of our contact and our chance for exposure.
3:56:23But I, but on the other hand, I mean, that's going to be a, I'm sorry to reverse that, but this is not to have Dr., what's his name, Sanko?
3:56:32Huh?
3:56:32Sanko?
3:56:32No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
3:56:36and H.E.W.
3:56:36and all the mayors on it.
3:56:39Oh, Duval.
3:56:40It's Dr. Duval.
3:56:41Duval.
3:56:41Tell him that the commander raised this with me, and I'd like to report on it, and also get him to report on it.
3:56:49I think he's got a lot of work to do.
3:56:50He'll put us on your thing, and Duval is a fine doctor.
3:56:53He's a doctor.
3:56:54Arizona, and who's got a superb job in drugs and other areas.
3:56:59But on BD, I'd like to know, does this thing, can it become fight or flight?
3:57:03Well, I've heard this pretty so dramatic that it has here, too, that we don't have a concern that we should get at it right now and start educational programs and the research and medical backup that we need.
3:57:14So our people have alerted us to it if we'd like to, you know, and have you know that we're watching closely.
3:57:19How many, Bill Rogers was talking, you have about 500,000 BSNs.
3:57:28We reported 425,000 this summer.
3:57:29We expect that we'll go over half of it.
3:57:31I hope you can get more in.
3:57:33You know, I mean, I think it's good for them, basically.
3:57:37It actually is a good training for leadership.
3:57:40At least you stopped the thing.
3:57:41You stopped the thing.
3:57:44We're aware of that.
3:57:47When I first joined the Legion, they were it.
3:57:49And I remember the great guys in the Legion who were over my mouth.
3:57:52So I practically go on World War II.
3:57:54My God, it's 25 years since World War II.
3:57:56We're welcome to stay out.
3:57:58The second largest membership group is a bit in our group now.
3:58:02It is.
3:58:02They are the second largest.
3:58:03And we're one of the two that's first.
3:58:05And the Koreans are now dropping to third place in the transition era.
3:58:10But if you could, I think it's just good for these kids to find a home, a lot of them, and give them responsibility.
3:58:20They're coming very quickly.
3:58:21As a candidate, I've traveled for two years at this office, and I've met a lot of them.
3:58:24They're coming through the post in the district commanderships.
3:58:26And we have a Hawaiian commander in Hawaii that's going to be able to handle this ship.
3:58:31And I think we'll have the next few years several great violence.
3:58:35What do you like?
3:58:37You don't like to travel?
3:58:40I like to travel.
3:58:42I mean, I have to love travel.
3:58:47Well, you travel, yeah.
3:58:49But it is exciting to be with you.
3:58:53I appreciate it.
3:58:55Chuck will arrange that, and we'll ask you for a call later.
3:59:05So I'm going to allocate a couple of crickets to pick them up.
3:59:09You can stay here.
3:59:13Now wait, give one to Henry.
3:59:13He's an old friend of mine.
3:59:14Now let's see, do you have a board to open?
3:59:37I, I've been lobbied on that one.
3:59:38Now for the, I'll give you a feature for the, for your watch.
3:59:42Same thing for this boat.
3:59:42Keep quiet.
3:59:43Now wait a minute.
3:59:50I wish I had something in some time.
3:59:50Are you golfers?
3:59:51I can't accept one of these.
3:59:51This is very small.
3:59:52Oh, great.
3:59:52Oh, all right.
3:59:52Are you a golfer?
3:59:52No, I'm not a golfer.
3:59:53You're a golfer.
3:59:53Let's see if I've covered everything.
3:59:54Okay.
4:00:20Well, oh, no.
4:00:22These are very special.
4:00:51It's hard to realize.
4:00:54That was 15 years ago.
4:00:55Less than 40 years in Congress now.
4:00:58He should lessen the present time.
4:01:04He still plays golf now.
4:01:08He's just driven.
4:01:10He's got great power over that committee.

Nixon, Geiger & Hauck on American Legion and Military draft

AI Summary

Audio

Transcript (AI-generated)

NARA Description

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on September 17, 1971

Cite this conversation